Connecticut Weatherization Program Picking Up

HARTFORD, Conn. — A $64 million stimulus program to weatherize Connecticut homes is picking up after a slow start. A little more than a year after the money came from Washington, only about one-fifth of it has been spent and only about one-third of the target number of homes have been weatherized. If the state does not spend all the money by March 31, 2012, it must give back what's remaining. Matthew Fritz, an official helping to oversee stimulus spending in Connecticut, tells The Hartford Courant that technical and legal issues initially slowed the program. But he says there are plenty of projects in the pipeline and things are starting to move faster. Priority is being given to state-financed housing complexes for the elderly. So far 344 units have been weatherized and 589 have been cleared for the work. Associated Press Courant.com